Understand how the Greek cuisine fits in to the rhythms of the day, and find out about the most famous dishes of the country...

The Greek diet is largely comprised of salads, stewed vegetables and fish as well as heavy, meaty dishes. These meat dishes were historically only eaten at celebrations and on feast days, but today they are enjoyed in the daily diet.

Though Greeks today consume a diet heavy in meat and fat and low in fruits and vegetables, Greek cuisine has many fine vegetarian dishes, which historically had comprised the daily diet for the majority. These dishes are making a comeback in lunch restaurants and growing in popularity.

Greeks tend to believe their diet is wholesome and healthy. Widely researched and reported all over the world, the healthy "Mediterranean diet" is said to lower cholesterol and promote a long life. While this is correct - a diet high in vegetables and fruit and low in meat and fat is generally accepted to be healthy, and true of "the Greek kitchen" - most Greeks do not eat this way any more. Most young people tend to prefer souvlaki rather than their mother's lentil stew and it is rare to see children eating fruit at school. School cafeterias sell cheese pies and canned drinks as snacks instead.

Statistics show that Greek children are now among the most overweight in Europe. Considering the lack of education on health matters in Greece, it is likely that this trend will continue.